5 Stunning French Expat Destinations with Rents as Low as $800/Month!

[@RetiredExpatEnjoyingLife]

I have lived in Nice almost two years. I love it! There is always something to do, the food is delicious, the weather wonderful and there is a large population of english speaking expats here. I met Tuula at an IL bootcamp and she gave me information to help me decide to move to France. All in i spend about 3,500 euros a month on average. This includes rent, utilities, food, eating out, public transportation, entertainment, health care.

[@crepinhauser5274]

In Nice, only 1/10 of people earn 3397,5/month BEFORE taxes. Of course you're going to be able to live with 3500.

[@NoObligationToday]

@@crepinhauser5274Cool your heels! She is speaking compared to the United States. Seems you are a little unhappy ☹️

[@mad8298]

@RetiredExpatEnjoyingLife I'm curious about Menton. Have you been there and what are your thoughts about living there? I realize it is muc smaller than Nice.

[@tikilanichols8023]

Just got our visas approved a couple of weeks ago... moving to Montpellier and then on to Le Grau du Roi...

[@justyrenson]

Merci bien pour toys ces infos! Je vais chercher Colomiers en Haute Garonne - on va voir!

[@justyrenson]

Thank you for sharing this! Love knowing names of towns!

[@justyrenson]

Me too! Love recommendations - also with $600 or less rent

[@susangladstone357]

Great information!

[@Erick-zp8vm]

One of the biggest expenses besides rent is having and maintaining a car. I would like to live in a city where public transportation is widely available so I can take the metro or a bus. Or I can walk a few blocks to the bank, the supermarche, l'eglise, and the laundromat. Not having to spend $500 or more on a car would make the rent seem more affordable.

[@feminastyleplus345]

I live in a town 10km from Toulouse where we have everything and accessible on foot: administrations, transport (and soon the metro), many associations of all kinds, cinema, theater, media library, swimming pool, market 2 x week etc. On the other hand, the city has no charm but remains practical for doing everything on foot without a car.

[@Songbirdstress]

Aka anywhere in France.

[@justyrenson]

What town is this please?

[@feminastyleplus345]

@@justyrenson Bonjour Je n'ai pas cité le nom car en effet l'on en trouve plein en France et la ville n'a rien de pittoresque. C'est Colomiers en Haute Garonne. L'on est à côté de l'aéroport Toulouse Blagnac mais l'on n'a pas le bruit des avions sauf ceux en test mais c'est très rare (1 fois/an). 40 000 habitants avec moins de pollution que Toulouse et tout est faisable à pieds. L'on aura le métro direct pour Toulouse dans 3/4 ans environ. En attendant l'on a le bus puis le métro si l'on veut se rendre en centre ville de TSE, c'est environ 45 minutes de trajet. La taxe foncière est la moins chère des communes aux alentours. L'on est à mi-chemin d'une grande clinique privé et du plus grand hôpital de Toulouse. L'on a une population mixte en tout, des chômeur aux ingénieurs et aussi bien français qu'expatriés car l'on a Airbus et plein de sous-traitants sur la commune. J'espère avoir répondu à votre demande.

[@lorrieleaver2447]

If you shop at the local markets and grow some of your own food you can have a truly wonderful life in France. Personally I’d buy a property unless you can find a really good deal. I’m heading for Provence not on the beach but accessible to it. I don’t agree with the prices especially in Provence. More like €500,000 + which is less than half the price in the United Kingdom. Northern France is where to buy cheaper properties and you can literally buy a chateau for €500,000 A decent family home with a garden costs anywhere between €150,000-€300,000 Should you buy in the south of France just remember that July through August is when the French holiday and rental income will pay for your house for the entire year. Good luck and learn how to speak French 🇫🇷

[@ciconia9159]

Also, look at the interior insulation; I mean the thickness of the interior walls because, in winter, it won't be great. The windows must appear to be "recessed" into the interior walls, which will therefore be thick and insulated. Buying a large house for €150,000 and thinking you got a good deal is often a sign of poor insulation.

[@justyrenson]

Great insiders tip!! I bet that applies to unexpectedly low rents too?

[@mariajensen3024]

Budgets quoted are always higher than what people who realistically lived on less in the States are so common. I'm not leaving because I want to live as "comfortably" as a well off person does in the U.S. hanging out over trendy cocktails and getting $50 haircuts. I want a petite cottage, small garden, a bicycle, a farmer's market, enough quiet to finish my book and plenty of countryside with occasional trips to the city on the train. That's not going to cost some thousands a month.

[@justyrenson]

Me too - where do you recommend?

[@TheClaudio7078]

I'm going to check it out this winter

[@daniahjean-francois8441]

So many places to chose from. But will likely stick with Provence. Cold- snowly NY weather😂

[@MyWTFName]

Thanks for the interesting overview, being in a location with good transport system negates expenses of owning a car which can make a city area like Lyon less per month to live than other places with lower rent that require own transport. Even in South America recently, rents have risen for expats for over $1000/month. France is becoming a more affordable destination now in comparison.

[@mariadelegeane3143]

Thank you Tula! Your videos are very informative. We're planning soon to scout out areas of interest in France.

[@cherylnekos4674]

I thought you mention more affordable places than you did. Most mentioned are at the high end

[@FanNy-ku6wt]

Yes, if you take the beautiful places she shows, look at de departments around and you'll pay half the price for similar places. Also you'll be close to these touristy fancy places anyway.

[@JamesDavidWalley]

Maybe I'm missing something, but "Live in France for Under $1,100/Month" when three of the five places mentioned have average rents of $1,100 or more? The lowest rent mentioned is $800...so you'd have $300/month to pay for everything else???

[@isabellezablocki7447]

Yeap, and all the places except Lille maybe are very expensive places and very touristy.

[@meganjohnson6601]

I just took it to mean rent...

[@acenasko4415]

Misleading and click bait

[@swfloridarealestate6188]

Excellent video! Loved seeing the 5 wonderful areas in France , great to visit 😊 beautiful country !!

[@FanNy-ku6wt]

Yes, that's mostly touristy places or very urban ones. But there are many other small towns or villages, as beautiful and less touristy where the rent would be 400 or 500€/month.

[@justyrenson]

How did you arrange to rent (a lease, not Airbnb) before arriving in the area? Thank you

[@nancyrivard6194]

Thanks Tula, I’d thought about Nice but too expensive & not really my cup of tea. I’ve chosen Limoux…moving in April. 1 bedroom furnished for €550. Less than 12,000 pop. Has everything I could possibly need. Large expat pop & language school. Near Carcassone with cheap flights everywhere & Toulouse International airport 1.5 hours away. Love Dordogne too but not practical without a car.

[@SueIsRetiringToFrance]

I'd love to connect with you - I will be scouting your area (Limoux, Foix, Tarascon-sur-Ariege, and over to Saint-Gaudens) in February for a move next September. (Sue) Sounds like my type of heaven!

[@maisondaoki]

Hi Nancy! How did you find this apartment?

[@Vladimir-o8z]

Hi there, does one bedroom have a living room? Thank you.

[@nancyrivard6194]

@@Vladimir-o8z The one I’ve rented does.

[@Vladimir-o8z]

@@nancyrivard6194 Thank you!

[@LucyAuburn]

Southwest Dordogne definitely calls to me. Hopefully one day in the near future I will be visiting and getting my family on board with moving there.

[@angelamcwilliams7775]

Is there good hospitals and clinics in the Dordonya region?

[@irenevesnayko4886]

Thank you for a good video. How to contact places about the available apartment. And how to attain the legalization status?.

[@dikjones-tb2xy]

Nice looks good do they have Home Depot or Walmart in France ?

[@lelman5462]

[@YogaBlissDance]

Wow READING THE COMMENTS tells me lots about the video- most feel it's misleading....clearly she must mean rents only? So that should be clearer IL! Quick search of NIce though does show nice 1 bedrooms for $600-800 so.... Also not to be snide but if you've ever had to live on a budget in terms of rent- 1. take the towns the mentions and MOVE to the periphery or the next smaller town- rents will be much cheaper, yes you may need car, I'm not sure but also look at being on a bus/train line. SIMPLE. Never move to the central part of a city (if on a budget) and 2. never use an agent- if possible find place FROM THE OWNER or go with a local friend. Both of these choices will cut your costs by at least 1//3. Ex- New Yorker.

[@gailscrypto1536]

I would love to move to france in the future but i read somewhere that renting is really difficult, most want a years rent in advance from foreigners as well as deposit. I dont like to do that as if something goes wrong with the rental its a struggle to get sorted as they have their rent...please correct e if im wrong. Id love to move to morbihan in Brittany just for the temperate weather and countryside (spent 20 years in thailand and asia - time now need to escape the heat!)

[@feminastyleplus345]

a lease for furnished accommodation is 1 month minimum but if it is empty it is 3 years. Unless I am mistaken in both cases the security deposit is 1 month and requires a guarantor but specialized sites are easily found on the internet. There will be an inventory which will be signed by both parties. Look on French government sites or on “real estate sites” in French. For prices see also on “le bon coin”

[@gailscrypto1536]

@@feminastyleplus345 thank you! i will have a look :)

[@pierrickmouazan517]

Maybe, you could start with an airbnb and if you like living in France, then rent something on a longer term ! Morbihan (which means "small sea" in celtic breton language) is very beautiful as well as the entire Brittany (I'm breton! 😉).

[@gailscrypto1536]

@@pierrickmouazan517 thanks for your response, yeah im hoping to move next year, being a celt myself (a scottish highlander) i feel the culture would really appeal to me!

[@bibbe888]

ne pas oublier la bretagne , toute la bourgeoisie française a une residence secondaire en bretagne...

[@NyMari8700]

Is it hard to bring pets into France?

[@SueIsRetiringToFrance]

Great vid! I'll check your video files, but if not, what about a video on the south from coast to coast? (Occitanie and Aquitaine)

[@ariannewdnotbe]

Great video, thanks. A video on Toulon would be of interest to us: French husband, US wife because we would like to retire there or nearby soon-ish. We don’t know the neighborhoods & being older want to be safe, plus, car-free.

[@MM-jv8di]

Thank you, How do I contact with France correspondent in private?

[@AlainDenis-pd1vl]

Good morning At this price 😮 you can buy my house ...200000€ 180m² all stones.. 80 km from Paris...20 km champagne région..in small village..forest...fields...😊😊😊

[@billhaze9337]

Too much for this location

[@bodilyc]

we are looking to move to provence just waiting on our visa being processed. what region would you recommend to be able to have at least 150m 2 home without a huge price tag? We are fine being away from the coast but seek a vibrant community with some expats and cultural activities. We are buying a home, not renting.

[@hrsbg]

OK, so $1,100 is the MINIMUM rent you will have to pay. More likely to be $1,400 for Nice. The overall cost will be much higher. So, the title for this video was kind of clickbait.

[@robintillotson5665]

Thank you for this video. What is the closet airport in Lille?

[@kathywoodley8254]

Lille

[@fredfonebone5108]

One subject I would love to see included in videos such as this one is how easy it is to fit in while learning a new language. My French is spotty at best, but I want to study and learn as quickly as I can while still feeling a new part of the community. Are some regions or cities more well known as being easier for overcoming the language barriers? Anyone’s insights would be appreciated.

[@LetsChillPage]

Hi from South France (Perpignan), Fred, 🌞🌴 Regardless of the location, small towns and villages are generally easier to penetrate local communities, especially in the southern half of France. However, this is only possible if you already have a sufficiently developed level of French so that you can be integrated into the activities of the various local communities and associations. This is in order to interact within these, which are often numerous and very active. Rural French people, while usually the most welcoming, are also, most typically, the least fluent in English. 😊 The priority for you in the pre-installation preparation in France must imperatively be learning French. This is the essence of your mission. Everything else comes after. Don't think one or two hours of learning per week over a few months will be enough for you to integrate and interact with the locals or to facilitate your very restrictive and numerous administrative procedures. Otherwise, prepare yourself for a huge disappointment or even a reason to return home, as you will feel isolated and helpless to move forward. You must immerse yourself in French culture well in advance before the fateful departure for France and as much as possible: listen to podcasts and songs, watch the news, films, and videos on subjects that interest you, take classes, and have conversations in French as early as possible, for as long as possible and daily. It's vital. Everything comes to those who give themselves the means. In any case, good luck and settle in France. You are welcome to stay with us. ☮👈😎

[@YogaBlissDance]

Start learning NOW, don't wait, esp if older!

[@fredfonebone5108]

Merci beaucoup for the replies!

[@mariajensen3024]

@@LetsChillPage Great suggestions!

[@erickarnell]

Am I okay with city living? Walkable neighborhoods and easy access to mass transit are half the reason I'm interested in France. Great overview of expat favorite locations. Thanks!

[@MrBCWalker01]

Best place for a wheelchair-bound expat on $1100/mo?

[@crepinhauser5274]

None. It's under the French minimum wage, and you can't really make a living on the minimum wage in france, especially wheelchair bound when you will have to adapt where you're living. Usually, people retiring with that level of income either are in housing projects or already have paid their houses.

[@bibibachmd9995]

Thank you for all the great info. I am now in Beaulieu sur Mer. Beautiful but very expensive. I like being on the Med.

[@mintyloren6024]

it's very annoying when hosts can't pronounce the French names correctly.

[@P3NGU1N10]

Very misleading video, 1,100 a month isn’t realistic at all. All BS

[@jfrancobelge]

Living anywhere in France with only USD 1,100.00 or Euros 1,100.00 a month?! Must be really tough though. Congratulations.

[@mikehornick4971]

1100 is rent only, according to the video, so the headline is misleading.

[@cosmicvagabond]

Live in France for $1100? You couldn't even get the rent under 1100. Misleading if not downright false! France is a beautiful country, but not cheap.

[@billhaze9337]

If you want to live in France you should be around French people not expats

[@gloriasaliba3395]

Agreed

[@nancynelosn5830]

Your speech is not succinct. Not good ennunciation.

[@meganjohnson6601]

Yeah, she is hard to listen to. I had to fast forward to get thru the video!

[@Hippy2021]

That's BS.

[@archiegoodwinjr]

Can the narrator please not speak in run-on sentences?

[@rjh2772]

medical insurance to get a visa is way out of reach

[@lorrieleaver2447]

You will need medical insurance but perhaps you should look at the insurance costs in France or another EU country. I have full worldwide coverage and it’s not expensive given that I am insured worldwide.

[@lorrieleaver2447]

Head south 🍾

[@mototakahe836]

They are immigrants not expats . Cut the exceptionalism crap.

[@erickarnell]

If they plan to settle in and stay, you call them immigrants, yes. If they are residents for a few years at most, I think the more descriptive word is expat.

[@crepinhauser5274]

@@erickarnell No, it's an immigrant. an immigrant can change land and migrate to another country. English speaking people keep calling themselves expat when they are migrating. Most refugees didn't plan to stay more than a few years, they planned to come back to their country either after earning enough or having their countries gone safer. If we call them immigrants, we're calling any voluntary resident for a few years an immigrant.

[@motohobo]

I live practically in the middle of nowhere roughly 20miles West of Perpignan. Bugger all facilities and youll be lucky to find a two bedroom house to rent for 800€ . I guess you can always find a good deal somewhere if you look long enough but in general I find your pricing a little unrealistic.

[@motohobo]

Rose tinted glasses view of France. Grass is always greener blahblah. I know, I live here. It is not the romantic ideal you might imagine. Its a beautiful country for sure. But unless youre loaded with money youre still going to have the same problems and worries as everyone else.

[@angelamcwilliams7775]

Is there good hospitals and clinics in the Dordonya region?